HONOLULU - Lindsay Ball was named the new complex area superintendent for public schools in Hana, Lahaina, Lanai and Molokai, also known as the Department of Education's canoe district.

Ball's appointment was approved during a Board of Education executive session Thursday night in Honolulu.

The 51-year-old from Kihei has been serving as principal for King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina for the last seven years. He was asked to consider taking the job by the outgoing area superintendent, Ron Okamura, who requested another administrative post on Oahu.

Ball said he initially was going to say no.

"I really thought I was going to retire at Kamehameha third," he said. "I love my job and I loved working with everyone there."

After consulting with his family and Okamura, Ball decided to "go for it." One of the biggest adjustments will be meeting extensive travel obligations, including regular leadership meetings on Oahu and visiting the campuses in his complex area.

"For me, that's going to be a huge change," Ball said.

He said he's looking forward to working with all of the school administrators in the complex area and will miss working directly with students. Ball has been an educator since 1979.

He moved to Maui in 1991, initially working as a business education teacher at Maui High School and then serving as a wrestling coach for several state champions. He still coordinates all the wrestling tournaments on Maui.

Ball received his undergraduate degree in business education and physical education from the University of Missouri in Columbia. He earned his master's degree in educational administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

His new appointment takes effect Aug. 1.